ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was todetermine the effects of feeding Chinese herbalultra-fi ne (CHU) powder to sows during the lastweek of gestation and during the lactation period onimmunological performance of the offspring. In thisexperiment, 15 pregnant sows (mean BW = 235.6 ±3.7 kg) were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatmentsincluding no additive (Control), 0.75% CHU powder(Group A), or 1.5% CHU powder (Group B) addedto a maize- and soybean meal-based diet. Blood from10 piglets per group was collected at d 7, d 14, or d21 of age to measure serum metabolites, lymphocyteproliferating activity, and serum antibody and cytokineconcentrations. Dietary supplementation of sows withCHU powder increased (P < 0.05) serum concentrationsof total protein, albumin, and triglycerides of offspring,whereas the concentration of glucose was reduced(P < 0.05) compared with Controls. The CHU powderenhanced (P < 0.05) serum concentrations of IgG inGroup B offspring on d 7 and IgM in Group A offspringon d 7 and d 14, increased IL-10 in Group A offspringon d 7, as well as IL-2 in offspring from Groups Aand B on all days of determination. The CHU powderincreased interferon gamma in Group A offspring ond 14 and in Group B offspring on d 14 and d 21, andincreased tumor necrosis factor alpha in offspring ofGroup A on d 14 and in Group B on all days surveyed.Compared with Controls, a greater number (P <0.05) of T lymphocyte subpopulations were detectedin Group A and B offspring including CD4+ cells inGroup A on d 7 and d 21, CD4+ cells in Group B on d14 and d 21, and CD8+ cells in Group A on d 7 and d 14.Collectively, these fi ndings indicate a benefi cial effectof CHU powder treatment of sows in later gestation andduring lactation on serum metabolism and cellular andhumoral immune responses of their offspring.
Key words: Chinese herb, feed additive, immune response, phytochemical, swine